Definitions

In this Act, unless the context otherwise requires, - (a) "agriculture" shall include making land fit for cultivation, cultivation of land, improvement of land including development of sources of irrigation, raising and harvesting of crops, horticulture, forestry, planting and farming and cattle breeding, animal husbandry, dairy farming, seed farming, pisciculture, apiculture, sericulture, piggery, poultry farming and such other activities as are generally carried on by agriculturists, dairy farmers, cattle breeders, poultry farmers and other categories of persons engaged in similar activities including marketing of agricultural products, their storage and transport and the acquisition of implements and machinery in connection with any such activity and the expression "agricultural purpose" shall be construed accordingly; (b) "agriculturist" means a person who earns income from agriculture; (c) "Agro-Industries Corporation" means a company or other body corporate, one of the principal objectives of which is to undertake activities connected with or intended for the development of agriculture and not less than fifty-one per cent of the paid up share capital of which is held by the Central Government or by any State Government or Governments or partly by the Central Government and partly by one or more State Governments; (d) "bank" means - (i) a banking company within the meaning of the Banking Regulation Act, 1949; (ii) the State Bank of India constituted under the State Bank of India Act, 1955; (iii) a subsidiary Bank within the meaning of the State Bank of India (Subsidiary Banks) Act, 1959; (iv) a corresponding new bank within the meaning of the Banking Companies (Acquisition and Transfer of Undertakings) Act, 1970; (v) Agricultural Refinance Corporation established under the Agricultural Refinance Corporation Act, 1963; (vi) the Agro-Industries Corporation as defined in clause (c); (vii) the Agricultural Finance Corporation Limited, a company incorporated under the Companies Act, 1956; and (viii) any other financial institution notified by the State Government as a bank for the purposes of this Act; (e) "co-operative society" means a co-operative society registered or deemed to be registered under the Orissa Co-operative Societies Act, 1962, the object of which is to provide financial assistance as defined in clause (f) to its members and includes a land development bank as defined in that Act; (f) "financial assistance" for the purpose of this Act, means assistance granted by way of loans, advances, guarantee or otherwise for agricultural purpose; (g) "Registrar of Co-operative Societies" means, the person appointed as such by the State Government under section 3 of the Orissa Co-operative Societies Act, 1962.